Alpine

Several neighborhoods in Utah County offer a small-town feel, but Alpine is where you live if you want to actually be in a smalltown.

“There’s a lot less traffic, spectacular views and you’re nestled against the mountains,” says Realtor Mariah Koehle of eXp Realty.

You won’t find a grocery store in this city, but here’s what you will find; a quiet, intentional community. People with a desire for an intimate experience with nature will plant a life here – and never leave.

The only people coming in and out of Alpine are those who live here, so traffic isn’t ever an issue; and surrounding areas still easy to get to. Lehi is less than 10 minutes from your front door, Provo is half an hour south and Salt Lake City is 35 minutes north.

Be ready to spend big on a home; Alpine has a reputation for being the most expensive city in Utah County.

“If money weren’t an object, I think most people in this area would choose to live in Alpine,” says Koehle.

Homes range from $500,000 to $4 million, with most priced over $1 million. It’s common to see this wide variety of homes all sharing the same block, so your house won’t necessarily be surrounded by others similar to it. Single-family homes between $700,000 and $900,000 sit on up to a quarter of an acre of land, and those over $1 million may be accompanied by half at least half an acre. Listings may be scarce, as neighbors in Alpine aren’t commonly known for moving away; however, that’s not stopping those set on creating a life here. You’ll notice more new constructions popping up, and more houses may eventually mean less land, so keep that in mind when you’re searching for a home. Floor to ceiling windows are a common feature on multi-million dollar mansions sitting on the east bench – perfect for taking in mountain views. Old ramblers make up the bulk of homes on the lower end of the price range, however they’re either well-maintained or recently remodeled inside. No matter where your house stands, breathtaking views are guaranteed as you walk to your mailbox or weed your backyard garden; and they’re not limited to the mountains. Several homes look over the valley and others face Utah Lake.

Depending on where your house is, your children may be zoned for a school in Highland, but this isn’t a big deal to neighbors. Parents who live near Alpine Elementary can walk their little ones to school, and Mountain View Academy covers Kindergarten through sixth grade. Lone Peak is the only nearby high school and is a few miles down the road in Highland. Alpine parents aren’t opposed to driving their kids to private schools outside of their neighborhood. American Heritage is located in American Fork, Waterford is in Sandy and The Challenger School has a campus in Lehi.

A small selection of mom-and-pop businesses are sprinkled across Alpine, but your closest grocery and department stores are less than 10 minutes away in surrounding cities. There is one local shop that’ll satisfy your sweet tooth: Butter and Salt Bakery. Owner Bryan McKinnon may look familiar; the self-taught baker was a season three semi-finalist on The Great American Baking Show.

Outdoors is where residents in Alpine prefer to spend their free time. Three playgrounds will suit kids of any age at Creekside Park. You’ll also find sand volleyball courts, basketball and tennis courts and large grassy areas to throw a frisbee or football. Get your steps in on the walking trail at Burgess Park or cheer on your child’s baseball team. Lambert Park is where most scenic trails begin for hikers and mountain bikers. Dear Creek and Horsetail Falls will lead you to natural waterfalls and Box Elder Peak boasts beautiful views of the valley. During the winter months, grab your skis and head to Sundance; you’re just 40 minutes away. Neighbors looking for an exclusive experience can play a round of golf at the Alpine Country Club. The city doesn’t have a library, but your family will be reimbursed up to $40 for memberships in surrounding cities.

There is one event that brings everyone in this city of barley 10,000 together: Alpine Days. Lace up your sneakers or put your helmet on; this annual 10-day festival includes a 5k and mountain biking race. There’s also a carnival with a Ferris wheel, fireworks show and a parade. Don’t wait until the day of the parade to dig out your camping chairs; neighbors save their seat along the side of the road days in advance.

There’s not a lot going on in Alpine, and that’s exactly why people want to live here. As neighborhoods like Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain continue to develop their land, residents in Alpine rest easy knowing their smalltown city has no traffic and abounds in nature; Their hope – that Alpine would stay frozen in time.

Written By

Hannah Rainey

Photography Contributed By

Kyle Aiken